AS PART of my trip to Phillip Island a few weeks ago, we took a headed out to The Nobbies.
The coastal area is at the western tip of the island and showcases some magnificent views.
It’s also an important breeding area for many species of birds and, out to sea, there is a rocky outcrop called Seal Rocks, which is a breeding and nursery area for Australia’s biggest fur seal colony, which is estimated to have more than 10,000 members!

Breathtaking!

The area was absolutely beautiful and the day ended up being quite warm despite the cool sea breeze. I really can’t get over the colours of the mosses and grasses that cover the rocks!
The walkways were really well-maintained and it was lovely to stroll around.

My lovely tour guides, Justin and Kelsey!

I really want to head back to Phillip Island one day and take this all in again.

LAST weekend I was lucky enough to be in Melbourne for the second time so far this year!
My friends Kelsey and Justin live there and they always show me a good time.
This trip was no exception, with a day trip to beautiful Phillip Island!
The island is best known for its adorable animal inhabitants: penguins, koalas and seals.

Look at that cute face!

Every evening, thousands of Little Penguins cross the beach to return to their burrows on land after a long day in the sea spent searching for food.
The island is home a colony of more than 32,000 of the tiny creatures!Unfortunately we didn’t have time to stay until after sunset to watch them come in but I will definitely make sure to do this next time!We arrived at the island earlier in the day after about a two-hour drive from Melbourne and checked out A Maze ‘N Things – a sort of theme park.The centre had awesome optical illusions, puzzles, mini golf and yes, as you could probably guess from the name, a giant maze.

The man is not the size you think he is.

Spooooooky!

This only shows a small section of the maze!

Next stop was the Koala Sanctuary!I know a lot of nature places say you’ll get ‘up close and personal’ with the animals but this was really true for this spot.We came across one koala, high up in a tree, growling louder than I would have ever thought possible from such a lazy animal.At one point we were almost within touching distance of their fluffy, fluffy fur!They’re just really relaxed animals and I love how much work this centre puts into teaching people about them and preserving their species.

This one was too tired to even climb up into a tree!

All in all it was an incredible day!
I hope I can get back there one day soon and see the penguins cross the beach!
Did you catch my travel diary from my previous trip? Check it out here.

TODAY felt like a fitting time to post this as I’m headed to the airport again!I never expected to be heading back to Melbourne so soon (I was only there last month!) but my lovely friend Catherine had flights she bought in a sale last year but wasn’t able to get the time off work. So I’m going in her place! (Talk about blessed?!)
I’ve been lucky enough to have done a lot of travelling over the last few years so I’ve gotten pretty used to packing and knowing what I’ll need on a flight.
Without further ado, and in no particular order, let’s get into the list:

All packed and ready to go!

Your electronic devices:
This one is kind of a given but you’d be surprised at the amount of time I’ve heard people say their phone/iPad/music player is almost out of battery just before they board.
Not every plane is equipped with those fancy TV screens in the back if the seat so you’re in for a boring flight if that’s what you were relying on to keep you entertained!
Also, it has to be said: don’t forget your headphones! Unless you want to shell out for a crappy pair at the airport, that is.

A good book or some magazines (or both!):
Perfect for when you’re trying to conserve the battery in your devices if you’ve got a long haul ahead of you or when you just can’t look at a screen any more.
Magazines are easy to digest between naps or in-flight meals and an interesting book can help you while away the hours.

A good book or a magazine can make any flight go faster.

Something to hold all of your important documents in:
Itineraries, boarding passes, hotel bookings, passports – all of these are way too important to have float around at the bottom of your handbag.
I like keeping everything important in one place and this Typo documents folder that my lovely friend Amy gave me before my Europe trip last year fits the bill perfectly.
There are slots for everything and the whole thing zips up so nothing will fall out.

A documents folder will help you stay organised.

A notebook:
Need some quiet time to get your ideas in order? A flight is the perfect place to do it.
You won’t be distracted by the internet (if your flight doesn’t have it) and as long as you can drown out the child crying three seats ahead with some music, you’re in for some quality thinking time.
This can even be as simple of a list of the things you want/need to get done on your trip, or in my case, more blog post ideas. (I never stop planning!)
Make sure you’ve got more than one pen, though.

Extra interesting things to do:
People may give you funny looks, but a colouring in book is an amazing way to while away the hours!
I like taking a crossword book too but I can neither confirm nor deny that I look at the answers to finish off the last few tricky spots.
Snacks can also help while away the hours. You’re probably going to be looking at the clock a lot less if your stomach isn’t rumbling.

Any camera film:
It’s recommended that you always take film in your hand luggage because the strong x-ray machines at the airport that scan your luggage can damage it.
I’ve read that many professional photographers don’t even let their carry-on luggage go through the scanners at security checkpoints, but instead request for their bags to be checked by hand.
This is probably not something you have to worry about if you’re not carrying a lot of expensive film, though.
My Instax Mini and the film for it are the first things I put into my hand luggage so I don’t forget!

Any toiletries or medicine you can’t go without:
My golden rule for travelling is not to put anything in your luggage that you can’t live without.
(My boyfriend found this out the hard way when we landed in Venice last year! It took two days for them to deliver his bag.)
I wear contact lenses so I always carry a small bottle of fluid and a case so I can take them out if my eyes get tired.
An eye mask is always handy if you know you’re going to want to sleep.
Hand cream, a lip balm, Panadol, motion sickness tablets, ear plugs and sleeping tablets are all in my hand luggage too.
And please, for the love of god, bring some tissues and don’t keep sniffing! It will make me want to murder you. I will embarrass you by handing you a tissue and asking you to stop.

I have just double checked my own hand luggage for all of these things, so it’s time to finish off my packing and head to the airport!What are your essential items that you can’t fly without? Let me know in the comments!

A WHILE ago I took a drive out to Lake Clifton to see the thrombolites.
These ‘living rocks’ only exist in a few places and can be thousands of years old.

The thrombolites are made up of calcium carbonate structure and a thin film of bacteria on the top and they’re extremely delicate, as well as rare and critically endangered.

Luckily, there are lots of signs to tell visitors just how much damage can be done if they touch the thrombolites.

When I visited a few months ago, the water levels in the lake were still too high and the thrombolites were submerged, but I was lucky enough to be able to see them through the relatively clear water.

I’ve read that late summer and autumn are the best times to visit because the water is low enough that the thrombolites stick out of the water so I’ll have to make another visit soon.

It was an incredible afternoon!
I only had a short amount of time before it got too dark but the sunset, alth0ugh it was cloudy, was beautiful.
I’m really enjoying exploring in my own state more, just like when I went to Fremantle a few weeks ago.
Keep an eye out for more of my local adventures in the future!

Every now and again you put together an outfit that just ticks all of the boxes.
As I mentioned in my holiday wrap-up post earlier this week, I found the most incredible handbag.
While shopping with two of my loveliest gal pals in Melbourne this week I spotted it in a little store called Kinki Gerlinki in Brunswick.

I. Am. Drooling.

The brand is Bao Bao and this extraordinary bag crumples and reflects the light in an innumerable amount of ways.
I paired it with an outfit that combines two of my favourite elements: leopard print and faux leather!
I picked up the cardigan and skirt the day before at H&M. Can I just say I am SO EXCITED for them to finally come to Perth this year?! We’re catching up with the rest of the world!

My ultimate outfit.

The cardigan is quite flowy so I tucked it into the skirt to accentuate my waist. I also put on my Samantha Wills necklace – I just can’t get enough of it right now! (Have you seen the other ways I styled this? Click hereand here.)I finished it off with my comfiest pair of flats – perfect for walking around the city all day! MAC’s Rebel lipstick felt right for this trendy city. (I reviewed it a while ago here.)

I can’t get enough of this bag!

Let’s have another look at that bag! I decided it was an early birthday present for myself and now I’m just trying not to buy everything else in the collection!

Bao Bao handbag.

Look at how it crumples!

When I saw it in the shop window I KNEW I needed it to be mine!

I have a feeling I’m going to be leaving this in the sun a lot just to watch it shine.

It also came with a wrist strap that can be attached instead of the chain.

I can’t stop looking at it!Would you wear a holographic-material bag? How would you style it? Let me know in the comments!